One of my early memories was in San Diego in 1945. I was standing up in the front seat of our car between my mom and grandma.
We had stopped at a grade crossing at the front of the line of cars and watched a steam engine roar through the crossing with its freight cars in tow. A marvelous, indelible memory.
My grandfather spent a career working for the Santa Fe railway so we got free train trips often. After the war, my father was a brakeman for a while at Santa Fe RR out of Belen, New Mexico.
A few years ago I took my son on a special steam engine passenger trip from Dallas to Austin and back. On the return leg, we upgraded to a private room. Loved it.
What wonderful memories!
My Uncle spent his life working for the Santa Fe too. They lived in Topeka. His wife who my Mother really loved, died of Leukemia at a young age.